This small circle of wood belongs to the top of a Bishop’s staff. It encloses a quatrefoil opening with remnants of red and black polychrome paint. The thumb and two fingers of a carved wooden hand hold the bottom of the circle. The remainder of the white painted hand is missing. The thumb touches the extended right foreleg of a carved, horned, 4 legged animal with a long thin muzzle, resembling a deer or an ox. The horns are broken off at their base. The animal’s left foreleg is bent and lifted. The animal is painted white but the paint is worn and chipped, showing underlying wood. The animal is attached to the circle of wood at its head, tail, and hind legs. Its body faces right but his head is turned towards the viewer. Beside the animal on the right is a footed carved wooden chalice that is attached to the right side of the wooden circle.
German
Top of Crozier,
15th century
Painted wood
,
15.2 cm (6 in.)
Object details
Accession number
S27w558
Primary Creator
German
Full title
Top of Crozier
Creation Date
15th century
Provenance
Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection by 1903.
Dimensions
15.2 cm (6 in.)
Display Media
Painted wood
Web Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.
Permanent Gallery Location
Long Gallery
Bibliography
Catalogue. Fenway Court (Boston, 1903), p. 24. (as "Crozier")
Rights and reproductions
The use of images, text, and all other media found on this website is limited. Please review Rights and Reproductions for details.
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.